Jallikattu - A case of selective outrage?
- In
- 02:43 PM, Jan 14, 2016
- Himavanth Vallabhaneni
Jallikattu is an annual bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations. Bulls are bred specifically for the sporting events which are later used for breeding cattle. Bulls are let loose during the event and young men compete to tame them. The event was cancelled last year for the first time after the previous government imposed a ban citing cruelty. Unlike in the popular Spanish traditional of bull-fighting, the aim is not to kill the animals. Jallikattu is in fact one of the oldest living ancient animal sport of India which is continued in its form in the modern era. Jallikattu was a popular sport among the ancient tribes who lived in the ‘Mullai’ geographical division of the ancient Tamil country. Paintings of bull chasing are visible on massive rock surface at Karikkiyur in the Nilgiris. These pictures are dated between 2,000 B.C. and 1,500 B.C.
Around 200 deaths and hundreds of injuries were reported in the past 2 decades during Jallikattu event which human rights activists cite as the main reason to ban the annual event. PETA reported animal cruelty and intoxication to animals during Jallikattu and have been protesting against Jallikattu. In May 2014, the Supreme Court banned the sport citing animal welfare issues. The latest government order gave permission for the event and all preparations were made by the Tamil nadu people for the Jallikattu event. The Supreme Court however interfered immediately and cancelled the government order to ban Jallikattu.
Jallikattu supporters and native cattle breeders slam PETA as they see PETA as a foreign organization which is against indigenous native cattle breeds. The native cattle breeders state that PETA's protest against Jallikattu and their demonstrations against it are responsible for reduction of cow to bull ratio. Many of the bull owners had no option but to send their bulls to slaughter houses as they can’t bear the cost of maintaining the bull without Jallikattu. They believe Jallikattu will preserve the native cattle breeds: Kangeyam, Puliyakulam, Tiruchengodu, Bargur or Semmarai, Palamalai, Umbalachery and Alambadi from extinction. One of the famous cattle breed Alambadi is nearly extinct at present.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come up with an ordinance immediately to allow the Jallikattu amidst Supreme Court Ban. The previous UPA government ordered a ban in 2011 but it was not implemented until 2015 after the Supreme Court had dismissed a slew of legal challenges. Many tourists from all over the world come in large numbers to Tamil Nadu to witness this annual event.
Local villagers who made preparations for the festival after the government order are in a limbo now after the courts ban. The livelihood of many people has been dependent on this tradition since generations. Without providing any alternative livelihood, governments banning certain practices, makes the lives of people dependent on these traditions miserable.
People state animal cruelty as the main reason to show their solidarity against Jallikattu. What about butchers, fishermen, poultry farmers then? Should they be banned as well? They are all doing the only livelihood they know. Is there bias in deciding what the native Indians should watch, do, think, celebrate and talk? Why is there selective targeting of only Hindu festivals, rituals and temples? The intelligentsia and certain NGO's never interfere or question the animal slaughter during Bakr Eid, why the difference? People who propagate everyday all religions are same; can’t they at least treat all religions equally before law??
P.S.: I am not endorsing Jallikattu, but worried about selective targeting of only Hindu festivals and rituals in the garb of 'SECULARISM'
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